Automated mode change for wireless devices during inactivity

Abstract

Embodiments enable using the inactive time when a mobile device is not moving to change its mode to a new state or condition of performing as if it were an access point. The embodiments can include determining if a wireless device is stationary, changing an operating mode of the wireless device from mobile mode to access point mode, and determining a current location for the wireless device with respect to a plurality of wireless access point devices. Thereafter, the embodiments can include providing stationary location services with the wireless device to other mobile wireless devices. Later, the embodiments can include detecting that the wireless device is no longer stationary; and changing the operating mode of the wireless device from access point mode to mobile mode.

1 . A method, comprising:
 determining that a wireless device is stationary; and   changing an operating mode of the wireless device from mobile mode to access point mode in response to said determining.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 detecting that the wireless device is no longer stationary; and   changing the operating mode of the wireless device from access point mode to mobile mode.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a current location for the wireless device with respect to a plurality of wireless access point devices; and   providing stationary location services with the wireless device.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a current location for the wireless device with respect to a plurality of wireless access point devices; and   providing stationary location services with the wireless device to other mobile wireless devices.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining if the wireless device is stationary by means of being plugged into a battery charger.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining if the wireless device is stationary by means of one or more sensors.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said sensors are either passive or active. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said sensors are passive sensors drawn from the group consisting of accelerometers, gyros, barometers, altimeters, thermometers, optical detectors, ultraviolet detectors, infrared detectors, magnetometers, and electromagnetic detectors. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said sensors are active sensors drawn from the group consisting of acoustic, optical, and infrared devices that transmit pulses and detect changes in echoed return pulses reflected from surrounding surfaces. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining if the wireless device is stationary by means of a lack of user activity.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 determining a relative location with respect to said plurality of wireless access point devices by analyzing received signals from each of said plurality; and   calculating a relative position of said wireless device with respect to said plurality of wireless access point devices.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said received signals are analyzed by received signal strengths. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said received signals are analyzed by time of arrival of a reference signal. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said received signals are analyzed by angle of arrival of a reference signal. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said received signals are analyzed by comparing a pattern of currently received signals with reference patterns of received signals. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 obtaining absolute positioning information of each of said plurality of wireless access point devices; and   combining said relative position of said wireless device with said absolute positioning information of said plurality to obtain an absolute position of said wireless device.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 providing stationary location services with the wireless device, by providing said absolute position of said wireless device to other mobile wireless devices.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 providing stationary location services with the wireless device, by providing information on geographically local points of interest to other mobile wireless devices.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining if the wireless device has resumed motion by means of sensors.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining if the wireless device has resumed motion by means of becoming unplugged from a battery charger.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 said wireless device using a wireless protocol drawn from the group consisting of Bluetooth, IEEE 802.15, IEEE 802.11, Hiperlan, WiMedia Ultra Wide Band (UWB), WiMax, WiFi, Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT), and a cellular telephone network protocol.   
     
     
         22 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a detector configured to determine that a wireless device is stationary; and   a processor configured to change an operating mode of the wireless device from mobile mode to access point mode, in response to said detector.   
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 said detector configured to detect that the wireless device is no longer stationary; and   said processor configured to change the operating mode of the wireless device from access point mode to mobile mode.   
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a transceiver configured to determine a current location for the wireless device with respect to a plurality of wireless access point devices, in response to said processor; and   said transceiver configured to provide stationary location services with the wireless device.   
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a transceiver configured to determine a current location for the wireless device with respect to a plurality of wireless access point devices, in response to said processor; and   said transceiver configured to provide stationary location services with the wireless device to other mobile wireless devices.   
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 said detector configured to determine if the wireless device is stationary by means of being plugged into a battery charger.   
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 said detector configured to determine if the wireless device is stationary by means of one or more sensors.   
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein said sensors are either passive or active. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein said sensors are passive sensors drawn from the group consisting of accelerometers, gyros, barometers, altimeters, thermometers, optical detectors, ultraviolet detectors, infrared detectors, magnetometers, and electromagnetic detectors. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein said sensors are active sensors drawn from the group consisting of acoustic, optical, and infrared devices that transmit pulses and detect changes in echoed return pulses reflected from surrounding surfaces. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 said detector configured to determine if the wireless device is stationary by means of a lack of user activity.   
     
     
         32 . An apparatus, comprising:
 means for determining that a wireless device is stationary; and   means for changing an operating mode of the wireless device from mobile mode to access point mode in response.   
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 means for detecting that the wireless device is no longer stationary; and   means for changing the operating mode of the wireless device from access point mode to mobile mode.   
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 means for determining a current location for the wireless device with respect to a plurality of wireless access point devices; and   means for providing stationary location services with the wireless device.   
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 means for determining a current location for the wireless device with respect to a plurality of wireless access point devices; and   means for providing stationary location services with the wireless device to other mobile wireless devices.   
     
     
         36 . A computer program product, comprising:
 a computer readable medium containing program code executable by a computer;   program code in said computer readable medium for determining that a wireless device is stationary; and   program code in said computer readable medium for changing an operating mode of the wireless device from mobile mode to access point mode in response to said determining.   
     
     
         37 . The computer program product of  claim 36 , further comprising:
 program code in said computer readable medium for detecting that the wireless device is no longer stationary; and   program code in said computer readable medium for changing the operating mode of the wireless device from access point mode to mobile mode.   
     
     
         38 . The computer program product of  claim 36 , further comprising:
 program code in said computer readable medium for determining a current location for the wireless device with respect to a plurality of wireless access point devices;   program code in said computer readable medium for providing stationary location services with the wireless device.   
     
     
         39 . The computer program product of  claim 36 , further comprising:
 program code in said computer readable medium for determining a current location for the wireless device with respect to a plurality of wireless access point devices;   program code in said computer readable medium for providing stationary location services with the wireless device to other mobile wireless devices.